It’s not fair those renting get more universal credit?

[Bigbenbube]

I’m a lone parent on £31k-ish. I’ve worked out if I earn a few more K I Get no more universal credit, but a couple with two kids on £60k combined get £240 a week.

People can get UC if their income doesn't meet their needs as set out in legislation.

One of things that they need is a home, and if that home is rented, an element in respect of rent is added to the "needs", which raises the threshold at which the threshold for assistance from UC. If it's not rented, there is no element added.

This is why someone on a higher income and paying rent can get UC and someone with a mortgage can't.

I'm not defending it, btw, just explaining how it works. The principle was the same under housing benefit, so this is nothing new.

Sorry, my second para is gobbledygook and should have read:

One of things that they need is a home, and if that home is rented, an element in respect of rent is added to the "needs", which raises the ceiling at which assistance from UC stops. If it's not rented, there is no element added.

This is us but people see mortgage and think wealthy but obviously not as entitled to UC.

Curious to know the scenarios where they don't need to be claiming benefits? Surely if you qualify why wouldn't you?

I regularly come across older people in my job who don't want to claim benefits they are entitled to. Maybe it's an old fashioned thing but they say they have enough to live off and cannot be pursued to claim. Often happens with disability benefits when they have significant assets and savings, they just don't want to claim just because they can. I had an elderly couple recently who were eligible to claim pension credit and council tax support but couldn't be persuaded to, they just said they had always lived frugally and didn't need it.

If you look at the statistics, there's actually more money saved in unclaimed benefits than there is lost to fraud.

Ah right. Get you now.

1. different circumstances how much equity does the mort holder have, £10k? £100k?
2. from what pp have said the HO will have a higher wages taper meaning they get more non-housing UC element.

I was thinking of friends I've had. One who I worked with and was continuing on family tax credits (approx 800pm, she said) instead of going back to work full time, as "the gov we're paying her to work part time so why would she bother working full time) she basically could have gone back to work full time and stopped claiming, but didn't, and continued claiming when really she didn't need to for years.

I've had friends tell me when I was in my teensn there's no point in them working, as they get the benefit payments, so why should they..

I totally appreciate that this will only be a certain number of people, and many absolutely need help.

why should they work - because you get cash benefits whilst working, pension, career progression, etc.

working part time - yeah why not lol

@WingsofRain

where abouts in the country do you live?

Do you rent?

how the actual fuck do you service without UC Earning £11,000 & how the hell fo you not qualify???

My friend has an 'Affordable housing' (in place of council homes here) and his rent is £1050 per month. There's no private rent available on Rightmove under £2000pcm.

£200pm council tax plus all other bills.

@Bigbenbube hahaha .....well you have a point there 🤣

I didn’t say I had an issue with it. I was just pointing out the argument regarding people having their mortgage paid off by tax payers being unfair but paying a landlords mortgage isn’t an issue.

If you’re going to object to uc helping with a mortgage that would include people in private rent.

Most btl mortgages are interest only so those paid by housing benefit aren’t being paid off by the taxpayer.

I think some people don't realise how hard and depressing it is to be stuck in the rental market. In this country renters have a very raw deal generally, and so few protections. I kind of think, at least UC contributes. As others have said though, it's not really the poor tenants who are benefiting from this, but the greedy landlords.
Housing is so broken in this country. Crisis doesn't even cover it. It's a total and utter catastrophe.

They aren’t being owned by the gov or rented out by landlords without the long term aim of the property going up etc..

ao Let’s give those on £60k combined money from the public purse? Lol

they own their own home and don’t work more than bare min. Or over £16l savings

I don't know anyone earning that much getting UC. Most people I know on UC really are very low earners.
I was on UC during the pandemic, when my income was virtually zero! I was self-employed, and lost most of my work. I'm not on UC now, or any benefits at all. I'm still a very low earner, but decided I'd rather go it alone, as hated the hassle. But, I don't begrudge others who claim at all.
I must read through the whole thread, as I don't understand how people earning that much would qualify...

I agree with many of the comments here.. Having a mortgage is essentially equity, My partner is on £39k wich iknow sounds like alot however our rent is 1400 and I am on maternity leave, i want to go back to work however due to long waiting list for nurseries and childminders I have to wait - we recieve £500 a month and are so grateful for this. Now our landlord is selling the property we are in and have to move, we would love to own a property and have that sense of security and that is definitely the longterm goal! Now we are looking at somewhere else to rent and everything is around 1600 does anyone know if we would recieve slightly more uc with higher rent?